Joshua Caplan
BreitbartFri, 18 Jan 2019 10:47 UTC
© AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) walked back his remarks in which he stated President Donald Trump's State of the Union address was
effectively canceled, telling the Fox News Channel Wednesday evening that the planned speech was, in fact, "not officially off."
A partial transcript is as follows:BRETT BAIER: First of all, is the State of the Union officially off?
REP. STENY HOYER:
No, I don't think it's officially off we - I had not seen the speaker's letter. What she suggests is a real security problem, unless we've opened up the government. Uh So - and we haven't gotten a reply from the president and his thoughts. So, it's not officially off, no.BAIER: So, the Homeland Security Secretary tweeted out the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union. We thank the service for their mission, focus, and dedication and for all they do each day and secure our homeland. They suggest there's not an issue here.
REP. HOYER: Well, I've heard that and we'll see what the president has to say. But, obviously, the speaker is absolutely correct. This is a very high-security event, as you well know. You have all the Supreme Court, you have all the Cabinet, you have the vice president and the president, and the Speaker of the House and the majority leader and minority leaders of the United States Senate. So, it's a very high-security issue. But, the other thing from my perspective,
Bret, is we ought not to be doing business as usual with a government shutdown that has 800,000 of its people not getting paid, including everyone one of secret service agents that there would be assigned.Now, it's tough to believe that they're on highest security alert when they're concerned about whether they're going to get a paycheck and be able to pay their mortgage. So, from that standpoint, I think the speaker's point was well taken and our position has been we ought to open up this government and then proceed with the business of government while it's operating, not while its shutdown.
Comment: Pelosi suggested in her letter that, due to the lack of funding for the Secret Service and Deptartment of Homeland Security, Trump faces increased security threats during the State of the Union. But, as Brett Baier alluded to above, the security services have declared that these concerns are
totally unfounded. Fox News reports:
"The U.S. Secret Service was designated as the lead federal agency responsible for coordinating, planning, exercising, and implementing security for National Special Security Events..." Pelosi wrote. "However, both the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security have not been funded for 26 days now-with critical departments hamstrung by furloughs."
But one senior Homeland Security official told Fox News that they have been preparing for months for the State of the Union event.
"We are ready," the official said. "Despite the fact members of the Secret Service are not being paid, the protective mission has not changed."
The official added: "it is a 'no fail' mission."
The official also noted that no one from Democratic congressional leadership reached out to the Secret Service to ask if the agency was able to secure the State of the Union address.
Another senior DHS official told Fox News that "there are no security concerns with the State of the Union."
Later, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said that DHS and the Secret Service "are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union."
Also see:
Pelosi: Requests Trump postpone State of the Union address due to shutdown, or deliver it in writing - huh?
Comment: Pelosi suggested in her letter that, due to the lack of funding for the Secret Service and Deptartment of Homeland Security, Trump faces increased security threats during the State of the Union. But, as Brett Baier alluded to above, the security services have declared that these concerns are totally unfounded. Fox News reports: Also see: Pelosi: Requests Trump postpone State of the Union address due to shutdown, or deliver it in writing - huh?